Garment blocking and stretching form



June 7, 1938.

A. P. SHEPHERD GARMENT BLOCKING AND STRETCHING FORM Filed May 22, 1935OoooLouooowaoo Patented June 7, 1938 GARMENT BLOCKING AND STRETCHINGFORM Ann P. Shepherd, Boston, Mass. Application nayzz, 1935, Serial No.22,853

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to collapsible forms for blocking andstretching articles of wearing apparel, and more particularly to formsof this character designed for the correct blocking and forming ofknitted articles in process of drying.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the correct blocking ofknitted articles such as womens sweaters, skirts and the like requiresboth skill and care, as such articles are normally during the dryingprocess carefully pinned upon a flat surface in accordance with apreviously formed paper pattern or the like. Necessarily the accuratesizing and formation of the articles depends upon the accuracy withwhich they are blocked and the frequency with which the pins or similarmeans are inserted.

The object of the present invention is to produce a relatively simpleand efiicient form of collapsible character which may be shaped intoaccurate conformity with any desired pattern, and which when so adjustedcan be employed for repeated blocking of the same article until adifferent shape or size is desired.

In accordance with this and other objects, I have produced a form whichmay be readily collapsed when not in use, which permits convenientinsertion within the article to be blocked, distending it to the exactform and size required. and which in the case of a sweater retains notonly the shoulders and body portions, but in addition the arm sizes. Ifnecessary, an additional portion of the form may be connected for thestretching of a skirt in the same operation. The form has capacity for awide variation in size, and in addition is articulated throughoutopposite edge portions to impart the desired shaping or curvature to thegarment in process of drying.

Essentially the form comprises a collapsible skeleton supported from acentrally disposed and generally rigid longitudinal. The longitudinalmember is provided at spaced intervals with cross members which may belocked thereto in adjustable relationship, and which engage and supportat their outer ends sections of articulated side members which throughadjustment of the cross members may be given any desired contour throughproper location of the joints. When not in use, the articulated sidemembers may be partially collapsed through folding in of the crossmembers about their connections with the longitudinal. v

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of theinvention, Fig. 1 represents a plan of the collapsible form with thearm,

sizes attached thereto, but without a garment thereover; Fig. 2 is adetail illustrating one of the sleeve stretchers; and Fig. 3 is a detailillustrating a section of the longitudinal member.

Referring particularly to the illustrated embodiment of the invention,it will be observed that the form comprises essentially a longitudinalH], which virtually forms the backbone of the skeleton, and which mayconsist of two generally flat metallic strips H and i2 retained inspaced relation by spacer blocks l3. This longitudinal is provided atintervals with spring detents l6, each consisting of a fiat leaf springriveted at I6 and carrying a. locking pin l8 at its free end, which isreceived in openings l9 formed in the strips, and is designed to engageand retain the diagonal 'cross members 29' through reception in one ofthe openings 22 formed therein.

By lifting, the detent the diagonals 20 may be moved laterally withrelation to the longitudinal til until the desired conformation of theform is obtained, and thereafter locked by the detent in adjustedposition. Each of the diagonals is connected at its outer end to a pivotjoint 24 which forms the juncture between two sections 26 of a sidemember. As indicated in Fig. 1, each side member consists of foursections of such a length as to give the proper articulation to the sidemember as a whole, and permit its conformation to be changed inaccordance with the form to be given the article. By proper adjustmentof each set of diagonal members with respect to each other set, anydesired conformation of the side members within reason may be obtained.Toadjust the size of the form as a whole it will benoted that the lowerset of diagonals 2B are connected with rods 30 which in turn are bothconnected at their lower ends to a sliding collar 32, this collar havingcapacity for sliding movement on the longitudinal and being retained inany adjusted position by a pin 34, which engages with one of a series ofopenings 36 formed in the lower end of the longitudinal. Not only doesthev movement of this collar with its connected rods adjust all of themembers in a manner to narrow or widen the form, but additional movementof the collar tends to collapseythe form to facilitate its receptionwithin the garment.

The upper end of the form is provided with an attaching hook 38 forsuspending it during use, and the lower end of the form may be providedwith a stretcher bar 46 consisting of two members 62 sliding upon oneanother. This extensible bar is pinned at opposite ends through themembers as to the side rods in a position determined by with a series ofholding pins 2 I V 7 any one of the openings 46. 7' The bar is provided48 which engage the 7 lower edge of the garment and maintain it in- 1proper lengthwise relationship.

" spreader 52, and engaged 'with-the'sections at the 1 'nection betweenthe end of zone of the sleeve rods:

and an extension 56 formed on the outer vend of l the upper'diagonalmembers 20, as indicated in Fig. 1. It will be evidentthat with thisconstrue-c 20 tion; the sleevestretchers are adjustable both as Afterreception'of the form w1thin the" garment,

sleeve stretchersindicated generally in Fig.1 and more'particularly inFig. 2, may be inserted in the sleeves and. engage with the main portionof the form. j a

i As indicated Fig. eachlstretcher comprises,

two side rods 56 and 5 Ladjustably held 'in separated'position atthe'outer end by a'telescoping inner ends by ahook member 53 receivedinone of the openings'flyand by a telescoping conto length andrwidth.

' Ifgitis desired' to stretch a skirt at thejsarne time, the lowersections 26 of the side 'cmembers 7 may have connected theretoextensible sides ,60,

indicated in dot and dash lines, which are con- 7 nected with theopenings 46 and are adjustable lengthwise to properly receive andstretch a connected skirt portion;

'- What is claimed is:

' A blocking and stretching form comprising al frame members eachconsisting of a pluralitybf pivotally connected and relatively shortsections, a series of'cross arms connecting the articulated framemembers with the longitudinal support at each pivoted. connection of theframe members; a spring detent for fixedly pinning, each set of crossarms to the longitudinal support, the crossarmsj "longitudinal support,opposite sets of articulated being perforated to provide individuallengthwise V adjustment and vary and means for changing the diagonalrelationship of the cross arms simultaneously'to' adjust" toward'andfrom' the articulated frame members the support without essentiallychanging the general contour of the frame members. r

7' Ami P. SHEPHERD.

the contour of the form,

